What unites the Fountain Palace in St. Petersburg withMoscow manors Kuskovo and Ostankino? All of them once belonged to Count Sheremetev. This ancient noble family gave Russia several prominent statesmen. One of them was Sheremetev Dmitry Nikolayevich (1803 - 1871 gg.) - great-grandson of the Field Marshal General of the Northern War.
In the Russian chronicles of the XIV century.there was a mention of the trustee of the Moscow Prince Simeon the Proud Andrey Ivanovich Kobyle. Many noble families came from him, the most famous of which were the Sheremetevs and the Romanovs.
One of the descendants of boyar Mare was nicknamedSheremet, which is recorded in the chronicles of the XV century. In the next century boyars Sheremetevs sat in the Duma, playing not the least role in the election of the homogeneous Romanov Mikhail Fedorovich in 1613
During the Petrine reformsstood out Boris Petrovich Sheremetev. A talented diplomat and commander, he was the first in Russia to obtain a new title for those times. Since then, his direct descendants up until the revolutionary events of 1917 occupied prominent public posts.
Some of them became famous as patrons of artand philanthropists. For example, Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev left a memory behind himself as a generous trustee of the Hospice for cripples and beggars, founded in Moscow by his father.
It is known that serf theaters enjoyed great popularity in the Russian Empire of the XVIII century. With the actress of one of them a romantic story is connected, worthy of adaptation.
It's about the beautiful Parashe - the daughter of a blacksmith fromYaroslavl Province. A small girl, she was in Kuskovo - an estate owned by Count Sheremetev. Here she had an acting and musical talent. Together with a beautiful voice this allowed the young Praskovye already in 11 years to make his debut on the stage of the serf theater.
Later, like all the actors of the Sheremetevs, she receivedstage name Zhemchugova and under it played in the performance given in honor of the opening of a new theater in Kuskovo. The premiere was attended by the Empress Catherine II, who presented the diamond ring to the performer of the main party Praskovie Zhemchugova.
Спустя несколько лет граф Николай Петрович Sheremetev, who loved his serf actress, conceived the idea of taking her as his wife in spite of class barriers. To this end, he filed a petition to Emperor Alexander I. The family of the bride was free, and of her descent from the gentry of the Polish gentry, they composed a beautiful legend.
В конце концов, разрешение было получено.Praskovia Zhemchugova became Countess Sheremeteva, but, unfortunately, she died of tuberculosis shortly after the birth of her son in 1803. Her husband survived her for only six years. So in 1809 Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev remained an orphan.
Guardians, according to the last will of the deceased count,assigned a small teacher to Mitya. We do not have exact information about his home education. It is known that, according to the customs of that time, Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev studied French.
Later, his son recalled that his father owned them well and knew the classical literature of France. Also in the curriculum of the young graph included music, dances, singing and Russian.
As a child of unequal marriage, orphaned DmitrySheremetev was brought up in a social vacuum. Relatives of the father did not want to keep in touch with him, and maternal relatives on the maternal line did not have such an opportunity because of their class status. This, of course, left an imprint on the personality of the shy young man.
Its majority in 1820.Dmitry Nikolayevich Sheremetev noted a major donation for charitable needs. In 1823, the earl entered the Cavalry Regiment, where he served until his resignation in the rank of captain in 1838.
Like many offspring of noble families, heCombined military service with visiting theaters and balls. In his house often gathered few friends of the Horse Guards. The company they were the artist Kiprensky O., who wrote in 1824 a ceremonial portrait of Count Sheremetev.
The cavalry regiment took part not only inthe suppression of the Decembrists, but also in the suppression of the uprising in the Kingdom of Poland in 1831. Nicholas I after returning from Poland Count Sheremetev awarded him the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree.
At the end of the XVIII century. Sheremetev N.P.conceived to found a hospice in Moscow for the poor. However, the Count did not manage to fulfill his plans - the shelter opened after his death. In the will, he asked his son not to leave without care, the Hospice House he founded.
Count Dmitri Nikolaevich Sheremetev fulfilledthe desire of the father. Throughout his life, he was engaged in charity, making large donations for the maintenance of the shelter. Over time, the Moscow Hospice became an exemplary one in all of Russia. He was repeatedly visited by members of the imperial family, as well as foreign guests.
The Order of St. Vladimir, received in 1831., was not the only one by which the reigning dynasty celebrated the merits of Count Sheremetev. Thus, in 1856, in 1858 and in 1871, Emperor Alexander II awarded him the Order of St. Stanislaus 1 st degree, St. Anna 1st degree and St. Vladimir 2 nd degree, respectively.
Dmitry Nikolaevich Sheremetev, whose biographyis inextricably linked with the history of Russia of the XIX century, died in 1871 and was buried next to his father in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The rewards he received are recognition of his great contribution to the noble cause of helping those who need it most.
